In Suspect TerrainIn Suspect Terrain::• Take the time you need to:

–Make a plan- scout from several spots

–Post a spotter or 2

–Find real safe zones to aim for that have good visibility

In Suspect TerrainIn Suspect Terrain::• Ski one at a timeSki one at a time

• Have pre-set clear signals, try a Have pre-set clear signals, try a talkabout radio for help with the linetalkabout radio for help with the line

• Don’t ski above your partnersDon’t ski above your partners

• Pole straps and ski leashes offPole straps and ski leashes off

• Ski carefully and lightlySki carefully and lightly

QuickTime™ and aYUV420 codec decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

SELF RESCUESELF RESCUE•YellYell while you attempt to ski out of the while you attempt to ski out of the moving snowmoving snow

• Get rid of skis and poles, or snowboardGet rid of skis and poles, or snowboard

• Fight hard! (swimming motion)Fight hard! (swimming motion)

• Keep day pack/ditch expedition packKeep day pack/ditch expedition pack

• Create air space, hand to surfaceCreate air space, hand to surface

• Stay calm, breathe slowly, dig to surface if Stay calm, breathe slowly, dig to surface if you canyou can

Companion/beacon rescue

Source: CAIC

CompanionRescue

OrganizedRescue

Alive 189 (68%) 58 (15%)

Dead 91 (32%) 317 (85%)

280 375

Only a member of your party or a companion will likely save your life

(68%)

cover(15%)

5.

Search Method

Search Time

Success Rate

Beacon <15 min 98% 1 Person

Search Dog

30 min 90% 1 Trained Dog

Coarse Probe

4 hours 70% 20 Person Probe Line

Fine Probe

16-20 hours

100% 20 Person Probe Line

Source: AAA

Search times in 100mx100m area

…and most likely only if you have anavalanche transceiver

Companion/beacon rescue

6.

0102030405060708090

100

0 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150

Time in minutes

%Recovered

Alive

Source: AAA(422 completely buried victims)

If recovered within 15 minutes,chances of survival are almost 92%

At 35 minutes, survival rate drops to 37%

After that, the success rate is extremely low.

Companion/beacon rescue

…but if you get to them fast enough, you can save them

7.

COMPANION RESCUECOMPANION RESCUE• Two priorities: Safety of Rescuers and SPEEDTwo priorities: Safety of Rescuers and SPEED• Ask the Ask the 5 questions (see next slide)5 questions (see next slide)• Appoint a Appoint a leaderleader who will:who will:

- interview observers- interview observers

- information point person - information point person - big picture person- big picture person

- - prepare for rescuing a cold/c-spine injured personprepare for rescuing a cold/c-spine injured person

• Quick searchQuick search is the most important first step is the most important first step- likely burial spots- likely burial spots- surface clues (do not move them, but check - surface clues (do not move them, but check beneath)beneath)

5 Questions:5 Questions:

1.1. Is the scene safe?Is the scene safe?2.2. How many victims? Wearing How many victims? Wearing

transceivers?transceivers?3.3. Last seen point?Last seen point?4.4. Transceivers to receive or OFF?Transceivers to receive or OFF?5.5. Cell phones off?Cell phones off?

Rescue - responsibilitiesRescue - responsibilitiesMulti Person GroupMulti Person Group• Appoint a leaderAppoint a leader• 5 questions5 questions• beacon and scuff search - beacon and scuff search -

leave clues in place - relay leave clues in place - relay information - acknowledgeinformation - acknowledge

• Bring your gear Bring your gear • A,B,C’s, turn off A,B,C’s, turn off

transceiver and look for transceiver and look for other victimsother victims

• Secondary Survey -1st Aid Secondary Survey -1st Aid and evacuate if necessaryand evacuate if necessary

• Report the avalanche Report the avalanche

Two Person GroupTwo Person Group• Go or no goGo or no go• Survey the avalanche for Survey the avalanche for

cluesclues• Turn to receive and begin Turn to receive and begin

beacon/scuff searchbeacon/scuff search• Bring your gearBring your gear• A,B,C’s A,B,C’s • Secondary survey - 1st Secondary survey - 1st

Aid and evacuate if Aid and evacuate if necessarynecessary

• Report the avalanche Report the avalanche - local SAR- local SAR- www.avalanche.org- www.avalanche.org

Primary searchPrimary search

Signal picked up here,Signal picked up here,Secondary search beginsSecondary search begins

Pinpoint searchPinpoint search

11.

PRIMARY SEARCH - OBTAINING A SIGNALPRIMARY SEARCH - OBTAINING A SIGNAL• Establish range (R) from transceiver range

check in worst coupling position (transceivers perpendicular to one another)

R

RR2R 2R

R

R

2R 2R

NO SKIS SKIS MULTIPLE SEARCHERS

LPS LPSLPS

Beacon SearchBeacon Search• PrimaryPrimary:: Search patterns before obtaining a Search patterns before obtaining a

signal signal

• CommunicateCommunicate findings to leader-”I have a findings to leader-”I have a signal!” Leader- acknowledge back.signal!” Leader- acknowledge back.

• Bring your gear with you - a probe and shovel Bring your gear with you - a probe and shovel are no good at the top of the slopeare no good at the top of the slope

Tips on the grid search: understand your beacon

Signal strength depends upon orientation

maximum

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

minimum

When the receiving unit is

90º to the sending unit’s field, the signal strength

will be at a minimum for that

location.

Signal strength depends upon orientation

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

When the receiving unit is

90º to the sending unit’s field, the signal strength

will be at a minimum for that

location.

Signal in X axis depends on Orientation

The “Fountain” will give 2 low numbers

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

When the receiving unit is

90º to the sending unit’s field, the signal strength

will be at a minimum for that

location.

Signal in X axis depends on Orientation

The “Rainbow” will give 1 low number

Colorado Avalanche Information Center

Pinpoint search: Be Consistent with OrientationGo slow to Go FastIs it a Rainbow or a Fountain?

PROBINGPROBING• Know how to put probe together,Know how to put probe together,• Probe “slope normal”, be methodicalProbe “slope normal”, be methodical• Be gentle- you are probing for people not crevasses Be gentle- you are probing for people not crevasses • SPOT PROBING for likely burial spotsSPOT PROBING for likely burial spots

Upside of trees and rocksUpside of trees and rocks

Benches in the track and runout zoneBenches in the track and runout zoneToe of debrisToe of debrisOutside of curves in the trackOutside of curves in the trackIn line with surface cluesIn line with surface clues

• If you make contact, leave probe in place and throw snow If you make contact, leave probe in place and throw snow downhill. The deeper the burial, the bigger the hole needs to be.downhill. The deeper the burial, the bigger the hole needs to be.

Recovery and Recovery and Evacuation Evacuation • Priority for recovered victimsPriority for recovered victims

- ABC's and hypothermia- ABC's and hypothermia

- Find other victims- Find other victims

- continue patient care/evacuation - will - continue patient care/evacuation - will you need outside assistance?you need outside assistance?

• report the incident to local search and report the incident to local search and rescue and www.avalanche.orgrescue and www.avalanche.org